Approximately 2,800 houses are for sale in Littleton. In this market, it may take awhile for Champ to sell his.

Besides, why would he want to leave the pleasant southwestern suburb that's the location of Fat City amusement center and Alfred Packer's grave?

A day after the future Hall of Fame cornerback told Channel 31's Josina Anderson he intends to list his home for sale, Broncos executive vice president John Elway said that the franchise wants Bailey to finish his career in Denver.

Elway, who has become The Duke of Twitter, posted Thursday that the Broncos resumed negotiations with the unrestricted free agent and "we've been working with Champ Bailey's representative this week on a new contract, which is an important priority for us. Our conversations have been constructive, and we'll continue those talks in the hope that we can reach an agreement."

This is the first serious player personnel test of the Elway- Brian Xanders-John Fox regime. Can the triumvirate persuade the 10-time Pro Bowler to stay in his own backyard with a chance to become Champ in more than name only here?

Get it done, Broncos. And tweet that, John.

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If Elway et al. work out a deal with Bailey, the team will be able to place its full attention in the draft and free agency on the other deprived, desperate defensive positions — of which there are plenty.

In a development that was the worst surprise since the endings of M. Night Shyamalan movies, Fox said this week that the Broncos will return to the 4-3 defense that Josh McDaniels abandoned in 2009.

The Broncos must have new defensive ends and tackles, inside and outside linebackers, strong and weak safeties and another cornerback.

They can't afford to lose Champ too. They can afford to pay him.

In the aftermath of Mike Shanahan's Mad-Mastermind Spending Spree on free agents — mostly busts — the Broncos' player payroll was reduced, ranking in the bottom half of the NFL. McDaniels intimated he felt cash-strapped by franchise salary limitations.

Elway will have more financial freedom — depending on the outcome (if and when) of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement.

But the Broncos must not wait on a move to re-sign Bailey, particularly after they abruptly broke off talks with his agent last October. The two sides were discussing a four-year, $40 million offer.

Bailey probably can command five years and $55 million on the open market.

The Broncos started at that $40 million figure again, but they will have to be more creative — and add several million in guaranteed money and another season or two in length. Although Bailey will be 33 in June, he can play cornerback for three more seasons, then shift to safety. Bailey also has to be convinced of the Broncos' efforts to become a championship-caliber team.

Elway must prove to Broncos' loyalists, who turned rebellious en masse last season, he is determined to turn the franchise. Bailey's return would be critical to the team, symbolic to the community.

When, first, Elway was introduced as the club's vice president, and, later, when Fox was brought in, both hemmed, then hawed, about Bailey. They now know he is vital to a defensive resurgence.

Bailey may drop a step, but his step already was way ahead. In matchups against two Pro Bowl receivers last season, he kept Dwayne Bowe from catching the ball even once, and limited Larry Fitzgerald to three catches for only 19 yards. One statistical sports service stated Bailey was the second-most effective cornerback against the pass in the entire league in 2010. Most teams wouldn't even throw in his direction — particularly when the Broncos had rookie Perrish Cox on the other side.

The Broncos don't even know if Cox, who has been charged with two felonies, will be back next season. Starter Andre Goodman was injured last season, and only serviceable when healthy.

Without Bailey, the Broncos would have to consider drafting LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson with the No. 2 pick. With Bailey, they can draft a defensive lineman or trade down and get a couple of defensive players.

Bailey has been a positive force on and off the field for the Broncos since coming to Denver in the Clinton Portis trade in 2004. He was named to the Broncos' all-time team and the NFL's All-Decade team, has missed only one Pro Bowl (in 2008 when he started fewer than 14 games for the only season) and hasn't caused an ounce of trouble.

When I caught up with Bailey as he was leaving the stadium tunnel following the final game of the season, he said: "I hope this isn't the last time. Sure, I'd like to keep playing for the Broncos. I love Denver."

On Saturday his fanatics will hold a "Champ Bailey Rally" outside the stadium. Maybe they'll get to celebrate.

And the Broncos can help Champ remove the "For Sale" sign from his yard and his forehead.

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